Race-track barrier.



No. 754,986. PATENTED MAR. 22, 1904.

. C. E. FOULKS.

RAGE TRACK BARRIER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 27, 1903.

N0 MODEL.

WITNESSES: [NVENTOR 2262" %@az A26 M- fllfijiya;

Patented March 22, 1904.

CHARLES E. FOULKS, OF COVINGTON, KENTUCKY.

RACE-TRACK BARRIER.

SPECIFICATION forming Application filed April 27,1903.

1'0 aM whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. FoULKs, a citizen of the United States,residing at Covington, in the county of Kenton and State of Kentucky,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Race-TrackBarriers; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, andexact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilledin the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to barriers or starting devices, for race-tracks.One of its objects is to provide abarrier having an improved movementwhereby it moves in the desired direction and very rapidly.

Another object is to provide improved means for setting up and takingdown or removing the barrier, enabling it to be quickly moved and set upat diiferent parts of the track.

Another object is to provide means for automatically unshipping thebarrier Without injury thereto or to the horses in case it is riddendown.

Another object is to provide improved means for releasing the catch atone side by the operation of the lever at the opposite side.

Another object is to automatically sound the gong when the barrier isreleased.

It further consists in certain details of form, combination, andarrangement, all of which will be more fully set forth in thedescription of the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is aperspective view of my improved mechanism in position for use. Fig. 2 isa detail, partly in section, of the releasing mechanism. Fig. 3 is adetail, partly in section, of the automatic unshipping mechanism. Fig. 4is an enlarged section on line 41 o of Fig. 1.

The mechanism herein shown is to be employed in starting the horses, sothat they will all pass the starting-line simultaneously. In practicethe barrier would be set up at the desired point across the track andthe horses driven or ridden abreast of each other toward the barrier. Ifthey are in proper alinement part of Letters Patent No. 754,986, datedMarch 22,1904.

Serial No. IMfiZB. (No model.)

when close to the barrier, thelever is tripped to move the barrier outof the way of the horses, and the race commences; otherwise the horsesare returned for a fresh start.

A A represent posts or supports upon which the mechanism is mounted andwhich are pref- "erably permanently located at opposite sides of thetrack. The frames B B are secured in position'upon the posts in anysuitable manner, being preferably provided with sockets fitting the topsof the posts and set-screws or other means for clamping them in positionthereon. The upper ends of these frames are provided with shorthorizontal studs C C, upon which are journaled the collars D D. Thesecollars have the stop-lugs EE projecting from one side and thespring-arms F F from the other side.

Gr represents the barrier, consisting of a stout tape or ribbon, theopposite ends of which are attached by rings to the free ends of thespring-arms.

. H H represent springs coiled on the studs C .0, one end of the springsbeing rigidly attached to the ends of the studs by means of collars I Iand the other end engaging the collars D D in such manner that thetension of the springs tends to normally hold them with the spring-armsF F raised above the collars D D, in which position the lugs E E engagethe bufi'ers or stops J J, which are preferably cushioned with rubber toprevent noise and injury to the parts.

In order to set the barrier in position for use, the arms F F arebrought down by hand, the free end of bar F is passed into the entranceof the L-shaped slot K, and the free end of arm F is pressed or sprunginto the slot K, where it is held by a spring-latch M. The springing ofthe free end of arm F by reason of the connecting-barrier springs thearm F, drawing its free end toward the frame B and into the endof theL-shaped slot K, thereby locking it in place until the arm F"is releasedby the latch, itself from the slot K and is quickly thrown to a positionabove the collar D. The arm F also at the same time springs clear of theslot when it springs back andfrees K and assumes a similar positionabove the collar D, carrying the barrier in a semicircular path, asindicated in'dotted line, out of the way of the horses, which pass underthe barrier. The arms F F are sufiiciently light so that their free endscan be sprung out of their normal position to enter the slots K K, andin order to increase their tendency to spring I preferably provide loopsin said arms between their free ends and the studs C C. The latch M isbeveled on one face, so as to be forced back by pressing the end of armF into the slot K. N represents a spring, seated in a cup 0, for holdingthe latch normally in the raised position. P represents a.lever fordepressing the latch to release the arms F F and the barrier. This leveris pivoted at p, and its under face is engaged by the upper curved faceof the collar 10, attached to the latch, so that when the free end ofthe lever is pressed down the collar compresses the spring N and thelatch is depressed.

In order that the barrier may not be broken or other parts of the devicestrained or broken should the horses strike the barrier, I provide meansfor automatically unshipping or releasing the barrier from either one orboth of the arms F F, which preferably consists of the hook Q, having akeeper R, held in place by a spring R, so that when any undue strain isapplied to the barrier the keeper is withdrawn, allowing the ring r atthe end of the barrier to slip oft the hook Q to automatically releasethe barrier instead of breaking it. In Fig. 1 I have shown the automaticrelease applied at one end only of the barrier; but it may be applied atboth ends, if desired.

In order that the gong may be sounded simultaneously with the release ofthe barrier, I mount the gong T on one of the frames B in such mannerthat the movements of the barrier will impart motion to the gong-leverto sound the gong. This is preferably effected by providing one or morelugs t on the collar D, which as the collar turns will contact with thegong-lever a to sound the gong.

It will be noted that by providing posts A A at various points along thetrack the operative parts can quickly and readily be removed from oneset of posts to another, as required for short or long races; also, thatthe mechanism is strong, simple, and reliablein action and that thedirection of travel of the barrier is that best suited to quickly andefifectively remove the barrier from the path of the horses. Themechanism here shown is capable of considerable modification withoutdeparting from the principle of my invention.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In a barrier, theopposite supportingframes, the elastic or spring arms pivoted at oneend, and adapted to be sprung at their free ends laterally out of theirnormal path of travel, and to return thereto when released, means forlocking said arms in said lateral position, and mechanism for turningsaid arms on their pivots when released to lift the barrier out of theway of the horses, whereby the elasticity of the arms assists to freethem when the latch is tripped.

2. In a barrier, the opposite supportingframes, the pivoted spring-armsadapted to be sprung at their free ends out of their normal path oftravel, and to return thereto when released, means for turning said armson their pivots when released to elevate the barrier, mechanism forlocking the free ends of said arms with their free ends downward byspringing them out of their normal position, so that the elasticity orspring of the arms between their pivots and their free ends insurestheir release when the latch is tripped.

3. In a barrier, the opposite supportingframes, the pivoted arms, abarrier attached at opposite ends to the free ends of said arms, arecess and latch to receive and lock one of said arms in the lowerposition, a recess to receive the free end of the other arm, said armbeing locked therein by the strain exerted by the barrier, and adaptedto be automatically released when the latch releases the strain on thebarrier.

4. In a barrier the opposite supportingframes, the arms pivoted thereto,a barrier connected to the free ends of'said arms, a latch adapted tolock one of said arms in the lower position, and means operated by thestrain of the barrier for locking the other arm in the lower position,so that when the latch is released both arms are released.

5. In a barrier, the upright posts, the detachable supporting-framesmounted thereon, the pivoted spring-arms, means for throwing said armsto the raised position when released, a barrier connected to the freeends of said arms, a latch adapted to lock one of said arms in the lowerposition, and means operated by the strain of the barrier for lockingthe other arm in the lower position, so that when the latch is releasedboth arms are released.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

CHARLES E. FOULKS.

Witnesses:

C. W. MILES, C. HOGAN.

